Five-Lens Optical Assembly for Compact High-Resolution Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing on-board lens assemblies face challenges in achieving high resolution, miniaturization, and high brightness while maintaining a compact size, with traditional methods increasing cost and size due to the addition of lenses.
Innovation Solution
An optical lens assembly comprising five or six lenses with specific refractive powers and surface configurations, including aspheric lenses and cemented lens groups, optimized for compactness and improved imaging quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of lenses is increased to improve resolution, then the imaging quality is improved, but the size and cost of the lens assembly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lens assembly is divided into multiple lens groups with different refractive powers (positive and negative lenses arranged in specific sequences such as -++-+ or +++-+). Each lens group performs specific optical functions, allowing the system to achieve high resolution through coordinated action of segmented components rather than simply increasing the total number of lenses monotonically.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple lenses with different refractive powers are combined in compact arrangements where positive and negative lenses work together. The cemented lens structure merges multiple optical elements into a unified compact unit, reducing overall size while maintaining the resolution benefits of multiple optical surfaces.
2Measurement precision
If the number of lenses is increased to improve resolution, then the imaging quality is improved, but the cost of the lens assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple lenses into cemented lens groups where adjacent lenses are optically coupled. This merging reduces the number of independent optical surfaces that require separate coating and assembly processes, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while still achieving high resolution through the combined optical power of multiple elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Each lens in the assembly serves multiple functions: some lenses contribute to overall focusing power, others correct specific aberrations, and the arrangement optimizes both resolution and field of view. This multi-functionality allows fewer lenses to achieve what would otherwise require more specialized components, reducing cost.
3Illumination intensity
If the aperture is increased to improve brightness, then the light gathering capability is improved, but the size of the lens assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs lenses with different local optical properties (different refractive powers and surface curvatures) to optimize light gathering in specific regions of the aperture. The positive and negative lenses are strategically positioned to control light paths differently across the field, allowing high brightness without requiring a uniformly large aperture that would increase overall size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses complex three-dimensional lens surface profiles (including aspheric surfaces) to control light paths in multiple dimensions. This allows the system to gather light effectively across a large field of view without increasing the axial length or outer diameter of the lens assembly, achieving high brightness in a compact form factor.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves high resolution, miniaturization, and high brightness with a small Chief Ray Angle (CRA) and good temperature performance, addressing the challenges of traditional lens assemblies.
Implementation Method 1
an optical lens assembly including five or six lenses with specific refractive powers and surface configurations
Data Source
AI summary
An optical lens assembly and an imaging device including the optical lens assembly are disclosed. The optical lens assembly, from an object side to an image side along an optical axis may sequentially include: a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens and a fifth lens. The first lens is of meniscus shape, at least one of surfaces of the second lens is a convex surface, one of the third and fourth lens has a positive refractive power, and the other has a negative refractive power, wherein the third lens and the fourth lens are cemented to form an cemented lens, at least one of surfaces of the fifth lens is a concave surface, and at least one of the first lens, second lens or the fifth lens has a positive refractive power.